Arena Schematic Design Presented


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Cesar Pelli revealed the more detailed schematic design for Tulsa’s new arena in a February 15, 2005 press conference.

Pelli said, “The role of the architects is to understand the need, hopes and visions of the group that commissions us and to interpret them into forms and spaces,” Pelli said during the presentation.

“This is our understanding of the great dreams of Tulsa.”

The design, with moving circular shape, signals the optimism the city has for the future of downtown, Pelli said.

Mayor Bill LaFortune said Pelli – famous for designing Malyaysia’s Petronas Towers, the tallest building in the world – has created an icon for Tulsa, just as the arena design specifications called for him to do. “This is not just another arena,” LaFortune said, “It’s a Pelli design – a true work of art. For that reason alone, it will draw visitors throughout the world.”

Mayor LaFortune also stated emphatically that the design can and will be paid for with the money set aside for the project in the Vision 2025 package, but opportunity exists to enhance the accouterments. “Bottom line – this project can be delivered with only Vision 2025 funds,” LaFortune said. “But private dollars allow us to enhance the artistic finishes. It is the difference between concrete floors and terrazzo floors for example.”

The preliminary design was revealed last September. The changes made to the original design concept include shrinking the facility from 600,000 sq. feet to 570,000 sq. feet and lowering its height by about 25 feet for efficiency, Pelli said.

“All of the basic pieces forms and dimensions are in place,” he said. “Now we have to work out the details of construction.”

Ground breaking is planned for July 2005 with a 30-month construction schedule extending to the end of 2007. The first events are expected to be held sometime in the spring of 2008.